“My experience at Winthrop is what drove me to change careers to serve public higher education. The opportunity to return to a campus community that made such a profound difference in my life is truly a blessing.”
Edward A. Serna ‘02
President-Elect
The Winthrop Board of Trustees voted unanimously February 18, 2022, to name Edward A. Serna ’02 the 12th president of Winthrop University. Serna is currently serving as the president of the University of Maine at Farmington.
He arrived at UMF in 2019 after serving as interim chancellor at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith. His work at UAFS, a public, four-year university with an enrollment of 6,600 students and an annual budget of $80 million, included leading initiatives focused on student success, student retention, and data-driven innovation.
He received a doctorate of education in higher education from the University of Alabama, a Master of Science in management information systems from Auburn University, a Master of Science in industrial management from Clemson University, and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Winthrop.
After working as a senior business analyst and strategic management consultant in the private sector, Serna entered higher education as an assistant professor of management in Athens State University’s College of Business. Prior to serving as interim chancellor at UAFS, he was the chief of staff and associate vice chancellor for external funding and chief of staff and vice chancellor for strategic initiatives.
